Listeriosis fears as person dies after eating ready meal sold at Aldi and Tesco

A person has died after eating a ready meal after a potentially deadly listeriosis outbreak has affected products sold at major supermarkets including Tesco and Aldi.

An adult has died days after falling ill from eating a contaminated ready meal in Ireland. This death has been one of several cases of listeriosis - a potentially deadly infection caused by the listeria bacteria. Supermarket bosses have scrambled to remove at risk dishes on supermarket shelves amid growing concerns for public safety. A range of ready meals by the brand Ballymaguire Foods, who sell products at both Aldi and Tesco in Ireland, have been affected.

It is not clear which ready meal the person ate before they tragically died. Dozens of products by the food company have been included in a long list of recalled items.

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The Health Service Executive confirmed this death is currently under investigation but further details cannot be shared due to patient privacy.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland said it was investigating nine cases following an "extensive outbreak". Dozens of meals have been recalled including items from Clean Cut, Good Food, Signature Taste, SuperValu, and Tesco Meals.

Some of the recalled meals include Tesco Meals Made Easy Beef Lasagne, Clean Cut Chicken Spice Bag, Clean Cut Butter Chicken, Good Food Locally Sourced Mac & Cheese and SuperValu Cottage Pie.

In a statement, The HSE said: "A voluntary precautionary food recall of ready-to-heat meals is underway due to a link with the outbreak. The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been notified of and is investigating the death of an adult with confirmed listeriosis. To ensure medical confidentiality, no further information on this patient can be disclosed."

Ballymaguire Foods has displayed point of sale notices in all retail stores that are selling these products - explaining why the products are being recalled and tell them what customers should do if they have bought the products. People who have bought these items have been advised to not eat them and instead return them to the store where they were purchased for a full refund.

The Listeria infection is an illness that can be spread through food and particularly impact older, pregnant and vulnerable people and even death. The first symptoms of listeriosis can be similar to other gastro illnesses, including a high temperature, chills, aches and pains, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. Pregnant women may feel their baby moving less than normal, or could develop a stomach ache.

It can take between one and 70 days to develop symptoms of listeriosis after eating contaminated food, so it is not always obvious where the bacteria has been picked up.

Last year there were seven reported listeriosis outbreaks investigated in England and Wales, linked to contaminated smoked fish, garlic sausage and pre-packed sandwiches.